Why quality essential oils are the safest and most cost effective way to bring natural aromas into your life and living space
Aromas play an important role in making the holiday season more memorable and festive. Cinnamon bark, nutmeg, clove, orange and peppermint conjure up memories of cookies and candy canes. Frankincense and copal (copaiba) might be reminiscent of midnight mass. Pine, rosemary or spruce offer aromas of decked-halls or the holiday tree. Smells have a unique way of connecting with the emotional part of the brain, bringing back fond memories.
Diffusing high quality essential oils in an ultrasonic diffuser is a safe and economical way to bring pure, fresh aromas into your home over the holidays and year-round. There are many beautiful decorative diffusers that can add a glow of light while circulating subtle scents to any room.
There are other ways to bring these attractive aromas into your holiday traditions. A few (5-10) drops of an essential oil sprinkled directly on holiday pot-pourri, wreaths and pine cone decorations can restore their charm. Or give the gift of relaxation (to yourself or someone else) by mixing 10 drops of an essential oil like the Stress Away blend or lemon eucalyptus into a cup of Epsom salt in a warm bath, for a spa-like experience without the hefty price tag. Choose a drop of essential oil such as ylang ylang, geranium or clary sage as an alternative to perfume.
Essential oil diffusers are a much safer way than candles and conventional air fresheners to set the mood. With no open flame, diffusing essential oils is also a cleaner alternative – eliminating soot and smoke. Even natural-fragrance, expensive candles can emit harmful fumes. Not to mention, essential oils are more cost effective and reduce waste. While you might get 25 hours of enjoyment out of a single candle, a diffuser with a set of essential oils will last you all year long.
Aromas engage the feeling/limbic part of the brain – and are powerful tools in conjuring up memories and emotional states. Since chronic stress is at the root of many diseases, you can use essential oils to improve health by reducing stress. For example, when you are in a naturally relaxed state, or one induced by guided imagery or meditation, you can inhale a soothing essential oil like Stress Away. This will enhance the ability of the oil to relax and calm you when you need it.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences. It takes a lot of roses (thousands!) to make the tiniest bottle of rose oil, which is why cheap retail oils contain very little if any of the pure oil and are often diluted with synthetic fillers that negate the healthy reasons that you are choosing oils. The brand of essential oils I recommend is free of the harsh or synthetic additives. Because they are so highly concentrated, it’s critical to know how the oils you choose are made, to support your health and well-being.
Popular holiday aromas include spruce, pine and other conifers, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, orange, peppermint and frankincense. Thieves and Christmas Spirit are two blends available for order here at AromaThrive.com.
If your holiday shopping list and New Year resolutions include supporting a healthier lifestyle, shop for quality vitamins, digestive aids and supplements, beauty and personal care items, green cleaning products and more at AromaThrive.com/shop. Here you can also book a brief call with me to help choose the best products for your specific needs. Here’s to a healthy holiday season and a fresh start to the new year.
This story originally appeared in fyi50+ premier lifestyle magazine for the 50+ generation